The Healer Of Light And The Prince Of Darkness

14. Old Story Will Tell

The main mansion of the duchy of Talis was like an empty palace before the appearance of the court magician, as known as princess Hazel. It was due to the death of the current duke's parents and his sister that he isolated himself from the world – not that he wasn't isolated enough before that. The mansion had enough staff to take care of it as it not to be completely abandoned. As years followed everyone thought there wouldn't be time when the mansion would be called home...

Or so they believed.

Hazel brought light, they were saying with amazement. After her engagement with the duke shortly after he turned twenty-five she visited so often the mansion that it was like an occasion to celebrate when she arrived. Hazel had the ability to make people feel at ease around her – either nobles or servants. She remembered the name of the newest to the oldest made and even payed attention to whom was the one who took care of the gardens of the duchy.

So, of course, everyone were all more than happy that even their master seemed to dote very much on his new treasure. All hoped he wasn't that of a fool to let her go...

Until it happened one they. The future duchess Talis, princess Hazel, left. Without any explanation but a farewell with everyone. And followed by her only personal maid, Anna.

And thus the mourning in the duchy began.

It was kind of hilarious when someone asked a stranger why they were wearing for so long black clothes. There were thousands of them in the duchy as the staff was taking care of three mansions in total. And because the kind-hearted and intelligent Hazel paid attention to all without fail, there were just too much people with black clothes.

"To show my sorrow..."

"It's just... Our sun had left."

"How can you even ask? We are from the Tales duchy!"

And so not only it was widely spread that Hazel had left the duke after the annulment of the engagement... It became known to all that she not only left. The princess disappeared.

"Is that what concerns you?" Tasia's eyebrows rose in confusion when she put the book in her hands on the table. "Let me just say this: you are a strange one, prince."

Cassian laughed joylessly at her statement and said:

"You seem not to understand a thing..."

'Dear sister.'

Tasia glared at him.

"I have just told you that Liliana had a guy check my skills at the game yesterday and you mention her background? I know the story too well."

Cassian sighed, "Well, that wench is just out of control. Not only she tried to kill me twice, but it happened with you too. She's too much."

"I don't think it's cleverness, though," Tasia took one of his pens and played with it.

"Do you think someone is helping her? It's not impossible, though."

Tasia shrugged and looked around carelessly.

"It cannot be otherwise. She is not that clever, let alone to make such a plan. I think there is something very important because of which she is so desperately trying to kill us."

"It's not like we're not investigating the matter further."

"It is not just that," Tasia put the pen on the table again and stood up walking around his office impatiently.

"I know you have already guessed it. That person who is helping her..."

"Cannot be that insignificant."

"A person that has targeted me just about ten days after I arrived with the prince. And me, not someone else. Also, you are considered as an obstacle too as you say."

Cassian clenched his teeth in annoyance.

"Just who is it, though?"

He shrugged and unexpectedly smiled a bit.

"You...What are you..."

"That's why I wanted to recall the old story of duchess Talis. If we know the past, we will be able to find out what awaits us in the future..."

"Sure enough he's a strong opponent for him."

The sound of the two weapons colliding near them made him look at the knights again.

"Though I'm surprised. I didn't expect Leo to acknowledge a Syrian as a worthy opponent at all."

"No, it's just because of you, I think. And a little bit because of curiosity."

The king raised his eyebrows and glanced at the man next to him. Jax Callios, a son of a newly risen Grand duke, was his chancellor. And his best friend since their childhood. Jax was a nice guy and even though his humour was the worst and he tended to be too honest at times, he was the most intelligent person fit to be his chancellor.

"You see, the lady from the Syrian envoy almost made a scene out of her little argument with her knight because she wanted him to spare with our famous captain," Jax glanced at the two training together covered in sweat but in a good mood.

"It has certainly caught the eye of our Leo because he didn't hesitate much before agreeing to train him today. As an example, he didn't want to have anything woth any of the envoy a few days ago."

"You think Leo is interested in all of them or..."

Jax shrugged with a faint smile, "Just a mere suggestion of mine but it seems the fight between the black sheep of the game yesterday and the prince and lady Scarlet caught his attention."

The training of the royal knights were almost to its end before the lunch break. One by one they began to withdraw with hungry stomachs being drawn to the canteen. Keid de Bresner, the Syrian with little Haresian blood in his veins, and Leo, the captain of the royal squadron, made their way too, though they were the last ones.

"Will you join us, you two?" Leo yelled at them because of the great distance between them.

Rhys watched them as they were slowly reaching the chancellor and him. That man, Keid, was the son of his adoptive father's half sister. That made them cousins or something like that, right?

"You cheeky brat will come too, won't you?" The language Leo used in front of the knights was more vulgar than this but Rhys had already said he didn't mind, so Leo didn't pay much attention to his words when he wasn't talking to the king himself.

Jax laughed, "Cheeky brat? Are you referring to yourself perhaps?"

"Dream on!"

The four made their way to the canteen when the king agreed to have lunch with the knights. It was an important matter to remain close with the royal squadron as much as possible.

But still... A thought had crossed his mind and didn't let him rest a bit. What were they doing at the time? Knowing Cassian, Rhys was sure there had to be something going on.